Intelligent Hospital Logistics

Intelligent Hospital Logistics (IHL) is a patented new and innovative concept – introducing an intelligent fully automated transport and storage solution that will radically change internal supply logistics at hospitals.

IHL works as a fully automated virtual central storage. On arrival supplies are simply checked into the central IHL system once, not to be manually handled again before needed at any given hospital ward.

Solution

The IHL solution consist of multiple storage shafts – all integrated into the physical surroundings and all connected through small autonomous transport robots. Robots, that can transport supplies between the different shafts and to and from various back-end services. As a user you will access the system through a user-friendly interface on a tablet or a smartphone – providing you with a complete overview of your supplies and the capability to order and get your supplies from the virtual storage delivered through a physical System Port directly at the ward, when you need it. No need to search and walk long distances to get the supplies you need. The supplies will be available for you where you need it, when you need it.

The Intelligent Hospital Logistics solution consist of the following components:

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Vertical transport and storage: A number of storage shafts equipped with automated storage equipment, e.g. a miniload crane and storage shelves, creating a small fully automated storage cell that can store transport boxes which simultaneously serves as a vertical transport unit. The storage shafts are placed through the hospital building for every 50 m.

Horizontal transport and storage: The storage shafts are connected via an automated transport system, e.g. mini-transport robots or conveyor transport belts placed under the ceiling in the basement, allowing transport boxes to be automatically moved around in the hospital and between the storage shafts

Top-opened and side-opened transport boxes: Transport boxes are used as containers for all supplies and material that are moved around in the system. The boxes are closed with a lid that ensures clean contents are not contaminated during transport and that unclean contents do not contaminate other contents. A side-opened box is used for most clean materials and a top-opened box is used for most unclean materials. Each box is uniquely identified in the system via barcode and/or RFID.

Clinical system ports: On the outside of each storage shaft on each floor level a number of clinical system ports are connected to the storage shaft allowing transport boxes and their contents to be accessed. Side-opened transport boxes are accessed via side-opened system port “magic cabinet” normally placed in a clean room in the clinical department. Top-opened transport boxes are accessed via top-opened system ports normally placed in unclean room. Both types of clinical system ports are designed to prevent users from touching transport boxes on the outside. This is one of the measures taken that prevents cross-contaminations and infections to spread between the departments via the logistics system.

Backend supply system port and specialized infeed and outfeed stations: A number of specialized backend supply ports or supply stations are connected via horizontal transport. These serve as infeed and outfeed to the system allowing supplies to be entered or returned from the system. E.g. backend supply ports at the hospital pharmacy, hospital kitchen, central sterile supply center, central logistics/goods reception, pick and packing or waste handling.

Intelligent and integrated control system: One intelligent and integrated control system that ensures ~100% traceability of all contents in the system and intelligent utilization of transport, storage and supplies.

Handheld and intuitive user interfaces: The system can be accessed and operated from touch screens at the system ports and via smartphones, tablets or computers with a web browser connected via network allowing materials and supplies to be easily ordered, requested or just located.

Value-propositions

IHL is an efficient transport and storage system for hospitals that reduces cost of operations with a return on investment (ROI) of a few years. This means more health for the money.

IHL delivers supplies faster, precisely and more intelligently – where they are needed, when are needed. This allows higher quality in services and better and more patient-oriented services. This means reduction in errors, improved treatment and more satisfied customers and patients.

IHL makes hospital logistics safer through its unique hygiene concept that goes beyond what is seen in any other automated transport and storage system and through its application of redundancy principles. It will reduce risk of cross-contamination, infections and spread of diseases in the hospital and make supply safe, robust and reliable. This means fewer health complications and shorter hospital stays and more reliable hospital services.

IHL makes supplies available throughout the hospital from any department when they are needed, where they are needed

IHL significantly reduces risk of cross-contamination and infections by separating clean from unclean, encapsulating materials during transport and storage and by restricting access.

Intelligent Hospital Logistics (IHL) is a patented new and innovative concept – introducing an intelligent fully automated transport and storage solution that will radically change internal supply logistics at hospitals.

IHL works as a fully automated virtual central storage. On arrival supplies are simply checked into the central IHL system once, not to be manually handled again before needed at any given hospital ward.

Solution

The IHL solution consist of multiple storage shafts – all integrated into the physical surroundings and all connected through small autonomous transport robots. Robots, that can transport supplies between the different shafts and to and from various back-end services. As a user you will access the system through a user-friendly interface on a tablet or a smartphone – providing you with a complete overview of your supplies and the capability to order and get your supplies from the virtual storage delivered through a physical System Port directly at the ward, when you need it. No need to search and walk long distances to get the supplies you need. The supplies will be available for you where you need it, when you need it.

The Intelligent Hospital Logistics solution consist of the following components:

Click to open larger image in a new window

Vertical transport and storage: A number of storage shafts equipped with automated storage equipment, e.g. a miniload crane and storage shelves, creating a small fully automated storage cell that can store transport boxes which simultaneously serves as a vertical transport unit. The storage shafts are placed through the hospital building for every 50 m.

Horizontal transport and storage: The storage shafts are connected via an automated transport system, e.g. mini-transport robots or conveyor transport belts placed under the ceiling in the basement, allowing transport boxes to be automatically moved around in the hospital and between the storage shafts

Top-opened and side-opened transport boxes: Transport boxes are used as containers for all supplies and material that are moved around in the system. The boxes are closed with a lid that ensures clean contents are not contaminated during transport and that unclean contents do not contaminate other contents. A side-opened box is used for most clean materials and a top-opened box is used for most unclean materials. Each box is uniquely identified in the system via barcode and/or RFID.

Clinical system ports: On the outside of each storage shaft on each floor level a number of clinical system ports are connected to the storage shaft allowing transport boxes and their contents to be accessed. Side-opened transport boxes are accessed via side-opened system port “magic cabinet” normally placed in a clean room in the clinical department. Top-opened transport boxes are accessed via top-opened system ports normally placed in unclean room. Both types of clinical system ports are designed to prevent users from touching transport boxes on the outside. This is one of the measures taken that prevents cross-contaminations and infections to spread between the departments via the logistics system.

Backend supply system port and specialized infeed and outfeed stations: A number of specialized backend supply ports or supply stations are connected via horizontal transport. These serve as infeed and outfeed to the system allowing supplies to be entered or returned from the system. E.g. backend supply ports at the hospital pharmacy, hospital kitchen, central sterile supply center, central logistics/goods reception, pick and packing or waste handling.

Intelligent and integrated control system: One intelligent and integrated control system that ensures ~100% traceability of all contents in the system and intelligent utilization of transport, storage and supplies.

Handheld and intuitive user interfaces: The system can be accessed and operated from touch screens at the system ports and via smartphones, tablets or computers with a web browser connected via network allowing materials and supplies to be easily ordered, requested or just located.

Value-propositions

IHL is an efficient transport and storage system for hospitals that reduces cost of operations with a return on investment (ROI) of a few years. This means more health for the money.

IHL delivers supplies faster, precisely and more intelligently – where they are needed, when are needed. This allows higher quality in services and better and more patient-oriented services. This means reduction in errors, improved treatment and more satisfied customers and patients.

IHL makes hospital logistics safer through its unique hygiene concept that goes beyond what is seen in any other automated transport and storage system and through its application of redundancy principles. It will reduce risk of cross-contamination, infections and spread of diseases in the hospital and make supply safe, robust and reliable. This means fewer health complications and shorter hospital stays and more reliable hospital services.

IHL makes supplies available throughout the hospital from any department when they are needed, where they are needed

IHL significantly reduces risk of cross-contamination and infections by separating clean from unclean, encapsulating materials during transport and storage and by restricting access.

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